Three-Point Play: Myles Stute, Paolo Banchero, NCAA camps

Today, in the Three-Point-Play, National Analyst Corey Evans outlines the visit tour ahead for Rivals150 forward Myles Stute. Also included is a quick look at a fast-rising, five-star junior and further thoughts on the NCAA Regional Camps that took place last week.

MORE COREY EVANS: Dishing on Michigan, UK, UNC, St. John's

2020 Rankings: Rivals150 | Team | Position

2021 Rankings: Rivals150

MORE THREE-POINT PLAY: Kentucky, ASU, USA Basketball

Last week, we broke the news that Myles Stute was down to a final seven of Clemson, Florida, Marquette, Pitt, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.

Next up? A round of visits that begin today. Stute will take an unofficial visit to Texas A&M. He will remain in College Station for another day and treat it almost as if it was an official visit. Stute will then head to Vanderbilt on Saturday for another unofficial visit.

His first two official visit dates have already been scheduled, one to Florida on Sept. 20, and another to Clemson on Oct. 11. He will likely spend his remaining three official visits on Marquette, Pitt and Virginia Tech in September or October.

A 6-foot-7 forward that is known for his frontcourt versatility and much improved shot making acumen, Stute’s decision will be a thorough one with a signing expected to be made in November.

Paolo Banchero averaged more than 21 points and 11 rebounds per game playing a year on the Nike EYBL circuit this summer, took home MVP honors at the prestigious NBPA Top 100 Camp in June, and just last week, was a top standout at the USA Basketball Mini-Camp.

He is a 6-foot-9, well-proportioned big man whose father starred on the gridiron in college and mother completed a tremendous professional career. One would assume the prospect in mind would be thought of as the top prospect in his respective class, or at least, a top-three recruit? Somehow, he is not, at least, for now.

Most of the attention garnered towards the 2021 class has been received by top-ranked Jon Kuminga, Terrence Clarke and Patrick Baldwin, but the time is now to discuss just how good Banchero is, has been and will be.

While Banchero might not possess the explosiveness of Kuminga, the scoring abilities of Clarke, or the smooth-shooting touch of Baldwin, he does exhibit tremendous polish and production in the frontcourt. He can shoot to the perimeter, have a half-court offense run through him, and rebound in high volumes. Banchero might be the most consistent player in 2021, which is why he needs to be in the conversation for the class' best prospect.

Regarding his recruitment, some have written off Banchero as a done-deal to Washington thanks to his family ties to the university. While he could ultimately end up a member of the Huskies' program, as Mike Hopkins has created a great relationship with the Banchero and his family, Banchero told Rivals.com that he will take official visits to Duke and Kentucky in the fall. The plan is to exhaust all five official visits allotted for his junior year with Gonzaga, Memphis, North Carolina and Tennessee vying for a chance to host him.

Banchero has been adamant that his recruitment is wide-open. Some have been scared off by Washington’s connections to him but the fact that he is taking such visits to national programs so early in the process reflects exactly what he has been saying all along.

Most college coaching staffs were represented in Houston, Storrs, Conn.; Champaign, Ill; and Phoenix last week for the inaugural NCAA Regional Camps and the reviews from coaches were not very positive.

“The positive is, I am trying to figure that out. The talent is not very good. The positive would be, if the talent was good, it would all be worth it,” an assistant coach said told me. “It is all in one venue or a couple of facilities and it is fairly organized for the most part.

“The drawback is, if you don’t get the guys that you need to see, and you’re restricting us to go to those four sites, you’re hoping that you got a kid that was invited to USA Basketball to occupy your time.”

The days were long and drawn out, according to Baylor Hebb, a prospect who boosted his stock at the event.

“The competition was the best around with great skill work but one thing that I would want is a little more of is rest,” he said. “We are all worn out.”

Four-star junior Zach Clemence gave his own evaluation of the event.

“It has been all good,” he said. “I know that it is its first year so you have to give it some space but it has been pretty cool.”

The patience that Clemence displayed was not shared by many of the coaches that were in attendance. Next year and with further tinkering, the NCAA Regional Camps could become a success. However, if organizers do not work more hand-in-hand with the powers that be, July could become a wash.